The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation hosted its first symposium on agroecology at its headquarters in Rome late last week. Agroecology, which adherents describe as both a study and a practice, has been touted as a means of addressing food security, poverty and the environmental impacts of conventional agriculture.

image expired

Over the summer, the UN appointed a second Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, after former investigator Olivier de Schutter released his final report in May. Like De Schutter, Hilal Elver is a vocal supporter of agroecology; an approach which brings ecological and sociological principles to bear when looking at 'agro-ecosystems', potentially leading to the development of novel management approaches that may not otherwise be considered.

France's agriculture minister Stéphane LeFoll has backed the approach, and outlined his position in a Huffington Post editorial, before he spoke at the international symposium on agroecology last week.

The two-day event (held on 18^th and 19^th September) featured presentations of the latest research findings, opportunities to share information from the front-lines of agroecology and news from initiatives which are currently underway.

Over 400 people attended, and over 50 scientific experts, delegates from civil society organisations and political leaders gave presentations and speeches. Amongst these was French minister LeFoll, who was joined by ministers from Senegal, Japan, Algeria and Costa Rica. Brazil's agriculture minister and EU agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos also gave video addresses.

Speaking ahead of the symposium, LeFoll discussed the approach, which he said fits in with the French government and state research institutes' calls to begin "producing [food] differently." French agricultural research agency INRA has publicly embraced agroecology.

In his comments, LeFoll said that greening agriculture would provide benefits for society as a whole and added, "I want to develop a knowledge intensive agriculture… [I see] tremendous potential for research and development of an entirely green industry, such as bio-control."

Agroecology: What's in a name?

Around the world, agriculture and forestry are responsible for 24 percent of polluting emissions. The French minister said that transition to sustainable farming will not happen overnight, but that, as tractors were shared between farmers in the early days of mechanised agriculture, so too sustainable practices and novel techniques will be taken up to green food production and make farming more efficient.  

The term agroecology has not been concretely defined, but rose to prominence in South America, where it is connected with the struggle for social justice, a connection that many agroecologists are keen to maintain. They argue that questions of power within world agriculture will need to be discussed before truly sustainable changes can be effected.

As such, the malleability of the agroecology concept means INRA's understanding of agroecology may differ from that of the agriculturalists who helped increase its profile elsewhere. Experts from the UK's Centre for Agroecology and Food Security have warned that, if policy makers fail to embrace agroecology as a whole, they risk "window dressing damaging approaches through modernised language."

FAO director on Climate Smart Agriculture and Agroecology

Commenting on the symposium in Rome, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said, "Agroecology continues to grow, both in science and in policies. It is an approach that will help to address the challenge of ending hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, in the context of the climate change adaptation needed."   

Speaking at the UN Climate Summit held this week in New York, Graziano da Silva elaborated on the need for a social focus within agricultural development. He said, "We cannot call development sustainable while hunger still robs over 800 million people of the opportunity to lead a decent life," referencing the latest UN report on food insecurity.

image expired

The FAO director-general continued, "Producing enough food for all is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for food security. People are not hungry because food is not available, but because they do not have access to it."

Having hosted the Agroecology Symposium last week, at the Climate Summit FAO launched a Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture, which the Organisation said will help drive the switch towards more sustainable food systems that can produce more with less environmental damage.

However, some sustainable farming advocates fear this venture may not carry the same commitments to the social and ecological aspects of agricultural development as agroecology.

Sue Everett, an ecology and Sustainability advisor and editor of Conservation News, said on Friday "I have a major concern, that people who have historical involvement in unsustainable agribusiness will end up in senior positions in this organisation."

"Whatever [The alliance] does needs to be underpinned by ecological principles. Only by applying these principles can we adapt agriculture to climate change."

Mentioning last week's event in Rome, the FAO's Director-General said at the Summit in New York that agroecology is a "promising approach" but added, "There are many paths to food security and sustainable development. Governments need to choose the solutions that best respond to their specific needs."